Draft Priorities and Round 1 and 2 Priorities

patchick said:

Actually, Vernon Gholston was a First-Team All-American and Hendricks Award finalist who broke Mike Vrabel's all-time sack record at Ohio State. Maybe he should be a lesson for everyone to ignore on-field production?

Some measurables do matter. The Patriots have often done well drafting "workout warriors" -- Jaime Collins, Chandler Jones, Sebastian Vollmer, etc. Even Edelman, who had never played WR but posted awesome shuttle and cone times (3.92/6.62).

But I agree 100% on the Stephen Hill example. Over-drafting unskilled WRs based on 40 times is a classic mistake.

Click to expand...

Edelman is the perfect example. Yeah, his tape showed that he was a player, but I'm sure that those agility drills played a huge role in getting him drafted. Sure, as a conversion prospect he's going to be raw, but at least you know you're working with some really good clay.

mgteich said:

Mayock agrees with you regarding DT. He has us moving for Malcom Brown.

Click to expand...

Would you be happy with that pick? If a top CB, Guard and DT were all available at 32 and they all had pretty much the same grade, which position would you lean toward taking? I'm kind of torn, some poster mentioned it was a deep draft for guards and hence we might want to wait even though it's one of our top needs if not our top need.

ashley1992 said:

Would you be happy with that pick? If a top CB, Guard and DT were all available at 32 and they all had pretty much the same grade, which position would you lean toward taking? I'm kind of torn, some poster mentioned it was a deep draft for guards and hence we might want to wait even though it's one of our top needs if not our top need.

Click to expand...

For me, I don't like the first round DTs so I's rule hem out and I do think BB might be looking at Mathis/Wisniewski at OG so I think by default it's a CB. I wouldn't rule out a WR, probably after a trade back, I can see some logical arguments for WR but I think that probably only happens if the CBs are gone at 32.

Prospects I think could happen at 32, with trade back or at 64:

CBs - Byron Jones, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters

DTs - Carl Davis, Jordan Phillips, Grady Jarrett, Michael Bennett

OL - Cam Erving, Jake Fisher, AJ Cann

WR - Devin Smith, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Chris Conley (hunch)

RB -Ameer Abdullah, David Johnson, Duke Johnson

I'm probably way off, but I would guess that our first two picks are in the above list. Note, I went from memory so probably missed someone obvious.

mgteich said:

I would not be surprised to see us draft two running backs, as we did the last time we were in this position.

Click to expand...

While the top is pretty similar to 2011 with Benny = Blount and Cadet/White = Woodhead (I know the latter is a bit of a stretch, but the team let Danny go for so little money that they didn't seem to value him as much as the production may have warranted), the prospects on this team are much better than those back then. There was no Gaffney or Gray or even whichever is left of Cadet/White if they both prove roster worthy.

I think it's possible that NE selects a RB reasonably high, maybe even the first round if the top guys plummet, but they are not going to double dip with two top 100 selections. The second RB would be a 6th, or perhaps a bushel of UDFAs.

I also think you are undervaluing Cadet. The tea leaves indicate to me that the team expects him to be a contributor.

New England Pride said:

Best player available. Stay the course.

Click to expand...

Drafting for need in the first few rounds is "staying the course."

PatsWickedPissah said:

Pats do BPA in areas of need. Often we have different perceptions of need than that damned BB.

Click to expand...

Ahhhh.... beaten to the punch.

The funny thing is, if you eliminate OLB/DE from consideration, fans would be surprisingly accurate as to which positions NE would draft in the first couple rounds. If the third round comes and goes without an OL, DT and CB selected, I'll be surprised.

manxman2601 said:

For me, I don't like the first round DTs so I's rule hem out and I do think BB might be looking at Mathis/Wisniewski at OG so I think by default it's a CB. I wouldn't rule out a WR, probably after a trade back, I can see some logical arguments for WR but I think that probably only happens if the CBs are gone at 32.

Prospects I think could happen at 32, with trade back or at 64:

CBs - Byron Jones, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters

DTs - Carl Davis, Jordan Phillips, Grady Jarrett, Michael Bennett

OL - Cam Erving, Jake Fisher, AJ Cann

WR - Devin Smith, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Chris Conley (hunch)

RB -Ameer Abdullah, David Johnson, Duke Johnson

I'm probably way off, but I would guess that our first two picks are in the above list. Note, I went from memory so probably missed someone obvious.

Click to expand...

Thanks Manx, as usual, you were very helpful and informative!!!!

Ivan said:

Actually Byron Jones ran sub 4.4, he can fly and he is the best pure athlete in this draft. I like Tomlinson but the Patriots usually go for college tackles and convert them to guard and I would expect that to be the case this draft as well. As for trading the most likely trade scenario imo is for them to package 64 and 96 to move up for a second top 50 player they have targeted. Those two pick bring them up to around 50. They would still have 97, which can't be trade as well as 101, which is also going to be trade bait on day three.

Click to expand...

Isn't he from CT like Darious Butler? Didn't Aaron Hernandex come from Bristol, CT? Wait...Tebuckey Jones was from CT (but went to Syracuse_...he was OK.. No CT for me please.

The sensible thing to do would be to take a CB with their first pick because a good CB is soooo stinking hard to find, esp. out of the first round....but the Patriots are not predictable with their first pick...

ashley1992 said:

Would you be happy with that pick? If a top CB, Guard and DT were all available at 32 and they all had pretty much the same grade, which position would you lean toward taking? I'm kind of torn, some poster mentioned it was a deep draft for guards and hence we might want to wait even though it's one of our top needs if not our top need.

Click to expand...

Being a "deep draft" for guards doesn't mean that we are likely to find a guard ready to start at LG available in the 3rd and 4th. If we sign a veteran, then I'm fine with passing on an offensive lineman in the top 50 or so picks. Otherwise, I'd pick one of LT/LG's. That being said, perhaps Belichick is OK with Kline.

I trust Belichick's evaluations; I really do. If he thinks that the need at DT is so severe that we need a 1st rounder, then I am certainly fine with him drafting a DT.

So, for me, I will learn a lot about our team by Belichick's draft picks, especially in the first couple of rounds. Manx gave us a fine board for the first two rounds. I could see us drafting at any of those positions in the first 70 picks. I could even see an ILB, depending on what Mayo knows about Mayo's health, and Belichick's expectations for him in 2015 AND in 2016.

I could see us getting three of Manx's list with a trade down.

manxman2601 said:

For me, I don't like the first round DTs so I's rule hem out and I do think BB might be looking at Mathis/Wisniewski at OG so I think by default it's a CB. I wouldn't rule out a WR, probably after a trade back, I can see some logical arguments for WR but I think that probably only happens if the CBs are gone at 32.

Prospects I think could happen at 32, with trade back or at 64:

CBs - Byron Jones, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters

DTs - Carl Davis, Jordan Phillips, Grady Jarrett, Michael Bennett

OL - Cam Erving, Jake Fisher, AJ Cann

WR - Devin Smith, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Chris Conley (hunch)

RB -Ameer Abdullah, David Johnson, Duke Johnson

I'm probably way off, but I would guess that our first two picks are in the above list. Note, I went from memory so probably missed someone obvious.

Click to expand...

Is Malcom Brown on your board?

mgteich said:

Is Malcom Brown on your board?

Click to expand...

Not really. I'd take him in the second round quite gladly but I'm not convinced he's a first round worthy 3 down DT and he's not good enough against the run to be taken in the first as a run-stopper that takes on double teams.

I'm not really a fan of taking DTs in the first round because I think you can get good guys in later rounds. They have to be very good at getting penetration (like Aaron Donald) or good at taking on double teams like Vince Wilfork. I have Jordan Phillips and Carl Davis rated ahead of Brown and Goldman. Some caveats on Phillips though - he needs to prove he knows what he's doing on the field - I have some questions in that regard.

I'm not saying Brown or Goldman are not good - they're just not what I'm looking for.

Offensive Priorities - Offensive Guard

Off Season Losses - Connolly

Defensive Priorities - Cornerback

Off Season Losses - Revis, Browner

I think we will see a WR or CB with our top pick.

I think we will get our DT, LB and OL later on.

I could see something like:

32: trade down to 40 and select WR or CB
64: trade up to 50 for WR or CB

3rd and 4th round: OL, cover LB and a RB. Then find a run stuffer later on.

I'd consider trading up for only a couple of prospects: Devante Parker if he slips and Marcus Peters if his off the field stuff checks out.

According to @AdamSchefter, the #Jaguars have signed Stefan Wisnewski to a 1 year deal. With Wiz off the table, the Patriots must feel confident about the interior line position in the draft

Chiuba E. Obele said:

According to @AdamSchefter, the #Jaguars have signed Stefan Wisnewski to a 1 year deal. With Wiz off the table, the Patriots must feel confident about the interior line position in the draft

Click to expand...

Well, I read somewhere that he said he would never play Guard again, and we have our starting Center in Stork for the coming years. Dan Conolly and Justin Blalock are the FA I would like the Pats to sign at G.

Minitron said:

Well, I read somewhere that he said he would never play Guard again, and we have our starting Center in Stork for the coming years. Dan Conolly and Justin Blalock are the FA I would like the Pats to sign at G.

Click to expand...

+ Evan Mathis..

Cam Erving is my binky in this draft and if KC doesn't take him at 18 then I would propose a trade with Dallas who will not be looking at OL at #27. According to the trade value chart it would take our 1st round pick #32 and our 1st pick in the 4th (#101) to make this trade. Erving isa plug and play LG and the most versatile OL in the draft having played both LT and OC.

First 2 rounds we should focus on OL and DT positions. Let me get this straight, we can't replace Revi$ and BB knows it very well. Maybe I say maybe Byron Jones or Kevin Johnson's pick with 32 makes a sense. Improving our front seven with Jabaal Sheard and DT pick is a natrual changing of direction in our defence.
Taking a RB in first rounds is a waste of time to me. Why? They are injury prone and easily replaceable. Strong chances to find a talented RB in late rounds.

I think BPA is the best way to go, BUT, I really think they go for BCA (best corner available). They just have to. You can't go into camp without a 1st round type talent at CB. I love Butler's upside, Ryan might be a good CB with upside, but the CBs from this draft might be that much better than those 2 guys. I don't know if we can even compete with Butler and Ryan as our starting CBS.

Also, I'd be shocked if we don't draft a WR and OL in the first 3 rounds.

First Round - Cornerback
Second Round - Interior Offensive Lineman

The two biggest needs off the table in the first two rounds.

manxman2601 said:

For me, I don't like the first round DTs so I's rule hem out and I do think BB might be looking at Mathis/Wisniewski at OG so I think by default it's a CB. I wouldn't rule out a WR, probably after a trade back, I can see some logical arguments for WR but I think that probably only happens if the CBs are gone at 32.

Prospects I think could happen at 32, with trade back or at 64:

CBs - Byron Jones, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters

DTs - Carl Davis, Jordan Phillips, Grady Jarrett, Michael Bennett

OL - Cam Erving, Jake Fisher, AJ Cann

WR - Devin Smith, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Chris Conley (hunch)

RB -Ameer Abdullah, David Johnson, Duke Johnson

I'm probably way off, but I would guess that our first two picks are in the above list. Note, I went from memory so probably missed someone obvious.

Click to expand...

I like your lists there and agree with them all except WR. Not a fan of any of those guys even at #64. My guys are Agholor, Strong or DGB for any point in 2nd. In the 3rd or early 4th my list is Lockett, Bell, Greene or McBride.